Tag Archive for 'funding'

Local playtest initiative PlayUp Perth are working hard to help up-and-coming developers take their projects to the next level, with new funding packages for showcased games. If you are a local developer who has shared your game at any of their testing events in the last two years, you’re eligible to apply!

Playup Perth, in partnership with City of Perth is proud to announce a pilot funding initiative designed to accelerate Perth’s games and creative innovation sector, including the burgeoning VR/AR/MR (virtual, augmented and mixed reality) industry. Currently the only funding available to WA game creators, Playup Perth – supported by the City of Perth — are giving out 3 microgrants to prototypes that have been featured at Playup Perth over the past two years.

Applicants will be judged on innovation, creativity, market potential and most impactful use of the funds. Winners will be announced at the final PlayUp event for 2017, with one local developer walking away with a $1000 grant, and two more receiving grants of $500 each.

In June this year Senator Scott Ludlam successfully proposed that a Senate Inquiry be held to discuss what the government could do to better support the Australian games industry. There is still time to have your voice heard in the Future of Australia’s video game development industry Inquiry.

The Environment and Communications References Committee is accepting submission of opinions and proposals in writing from individuals and organisations. You can read the submissions that have already made here, although currently this list stands at a grand total of ONE. So on that note, here are all the details so that you (yes you) can have your say on the matter:

What does a submission involve?

“A submission may be as short or as long as you like. It may contain facts, opinions, arguments or recommendations. It may cover all the points in the terms of reference or only some of them, depending on what interests you. Supporting documents may be attached.”

What is the topic of discussion?

The future of Australia’s video game dev industry, with particular reference to:

how Australia can best set regulatory and taxation frameworks that will allow the local video game development industry to grow and fully meet its potential as a substantial employer,

how Australia can attract video game companies to set up development operations in Australia and employ local staff,

how export opportunities from Australia’s local video game industry can be maximised, and

any other related matters.

How do I make a submission to a Senate Inquiry?

Everything you need to know about making a submission can be found right here on the Parliament of Australia website. Information includes recommendations on the most useful formats for a submission, and what to do if you would like your name to remain confidential.

In 2007 our industry was one the Government saw as full of potential, but with the recent funding cuts and grant cancellations it’s not unreasonable to think the sector has since been overlooked. However it appears that we have not been forgotten; just last week WA’s very own Senator Scott Ludlam, co-deputy leader of the Australian Greens, successfully proposed a Senate Inquiry on what the government can do to better support the Australian games industry.

“Five years ago, Australia had a burgeoning video game development sector employing thousands of talented people in this rapidly growing industry.” Noted Senator Ludlam. “Internationally, companies have experienced strong growth thanks to smart government support and favourable regulatory settings.

“In Australia, no such luck: the sector has been treated like the poor cousin of the creative industries, culminating in the Abbott Government’s decision to close the $20 million Australian Interactive Games Fund, just 12 months after it was established.”

The Inquiry will focus on the future of the Australian (video) game development industry, with specific reference having been made to:

(i) how Australia can best set regulatory and taxation frameworks that will allow the local video game development industry to grow and fully meet its potential as a substantial employer,

(ii) how Australia can attract video game companies to set up development operations in Australia and employ local staff,

(iii) how export opportunities from Australia‘s local video game industry can be maximised, and

(iv) any other related matters.

Public hearings will be conducted as part of the Inquiry, and more information on dates for submissions will be released soon. The Inquiry itself will be conducted by the Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications, and the report date is set for April 2016.

The games industry in Perth continues to strengthen and grow, and new opportunities for collaboration, investment, and development are rising up. The fine folk at FTI’s Game and Interactive Program, known for such contributions to the games community as Playup Perth and Level One, are keen to keep the ball rolling on this. Following on from last year’s Games Industry Scoping Survey, FTI identified the need for more funding opportunities for local games projects; with this in mind they have just announced Oompf! Games, a one-off members production fund to the value of $10,000!

OOMPF! Games is competitive grant scheme that provides financial assistance for FTI members in the games industry to help them take their game to market with funding of up to $10,000.

Eligible games can include video games, console games, mobile games, online games, augmented and virtual reality games and pervasive, mixed/cross platform or other forms experimental games, as long as the production contains a digital component.

Projects that receive funding from the Oomf! Games program will need to be completed within 6 – 10 months from the approval date. To be eligible for funding, studios or individual developers must be West Australian, and at least one person from the studio must be an FTI Member. Projects that focus on diverse and inclusive content are of particular interest to FTI; games that focus on WA content, are created (or co-created) by Indigenous people, women or other underrepresented group, and/or tell their stories, are especially encouraged.

The key dates outlined for the program are as follows:

Public Pitch Night – 23 July 2015

Applications Close – 7 August 2015

Panel Assessment – August

Contracting – September 2015

Project Delivery – February 2016 (unless otherwise agreed upon)

For more information, check out the FTI Announcement Page and Funding Guidelines. For all queries, please contact the Games and Interactive Program Director, Kate Raynes-Goldie via or (08) 9431-6709.